Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (14th Edition)

Published by Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.
ISBN 10: 1305073959
ISBN 13: 978-1-30507-395-1

Chapter 2 - Critical Thinking - Page 35: 1

Answer

The alchemists were never able to transform lead (atomic number 82) into gold (atomic number 79) because at that time, they were using only simple chemical reactions to try to change the structure of lead.

Work Step by Step

Changing lead into gold requires a nuclear reaction, which at that time, was not possible to do.
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